Introducing the girl behind the camera

Hello my loves! First of all, I'd like to personally thank you for stopping by and checking out my work and blog. Since my main focus is to capture everlasting memories, I've decided to let you know a little about the girl behind the camera. Right now I'm an inspiring photographer who only wants my love, passion and knowledge for photography to grow. I will strive to bring unique and beautiful moments to life through my camera lens & I always want your experience to be fun and relaxing!

They say a pictures worth a thousands words, and it's my goal to write you a novel every time I get behind my camera.

 

 

how it all started....

Let's be honest here. Who didn't, or should I say doesn't, love getting dressed up and taking pictures? I was the little girl who LOVED being in front of a camera, but that's not all. In my childhood, I would have friends over, do their hair and make up and make them be my model for the day. In fact, at one point in time being a beautician was what "I wanted to be when I grew up".

I realized how in love with photography I was 5 years ago while taking a yearbook class in high school (which was supposed to be one of those classes that you only sign up for because it seemed like an easy elective credit). What started as a class, turned into a hobby and that hobby grew into an obsession. I still think that I would have discovered my passion for photography either way, but it definitely gave me that extra boost in the right direction. To this day, I'm so very thankful that I signed up for that "easy" class. Now I welcome any and every opportunity to be behind my camera.

On Valentines Day in 2010, my wonderful husband and handsome little man surprised me with my very first DSLR camera. I owe them so much for supporting and believing in my photography dream every step of the way.

{ photo provided by MAC Photography - http://www.facebook.com/MACxxPhotography?fref=ts }

 

 

i love you always...

 



On January 4th, 2008, thirteen days after turning 18, my boyfriend asked me to marry him and I said yes! He replied, "right now".... We quickly got ready and eloped within minutes. That spur of the moment, crazy idea, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. This past January we celebrated 5 wonderful years together. 
Two weeks after graduating high school I moved to Washington D.C. where my husband was stationed the first 4 years of his military career. Talk about lost. I came from a small town of 137 people... ok, extremely small town. I was used to gravel roads, beautiful views, swimming in creeks and living with-in a few mile radius of my family and friends- Not interstates, smoggy skies, rude taxi cab drivers and of course being 1,000 miles away from where I grew up. It was a scary experience at first, but as time passed by I grew accustom to the different living styles. I was even called "worldly" once. The last 4 years of my husband career he was stationed in Jacksonville, NC. Again, I was lost at first but finally opened up and explored the idea of living in a new area. I was lucky enough to meet some amazing people, who I know will remain life long friends.

 

 

 

our blessing...

 







In early March of 2009, Cody left for predeployment training, leaving me by myself in an unknown land for 6 weeks. The moment he left on the long plane ride from NC to CA, I discovered we were expecting. Talk about the longest 8 hours of my life! Honestly, I'm not sure how burn holes weren't carved into our carpet from all my pacing back and forth. When he finally called after landing, I literally screamed "I'm PREGNANT!!" at the top of my lungs. After holding something that exciting in for 8 hours, it felt amazing to finally say it.
Soon after that we started brainstorming names. For a girl we picked Carlie Rose (after my Pawpaw Charlie) and Graiden Hunter (I liked Grader but my husband liked Aiden.. We came to the conclusion of joining the two together. Hunter after Cody's dads middle name and his grandpas first name).
We were ecstatic! Only to soon realize that he was deploying in 2 months. Due to his deployment he missed everything. Ultrasounds, hearing the babies heart beat, discovering we were having a boy, my cravings for sour skittles, the first kick, labor and in the end, the birth of our son. During my husbands deployment, he lost his Sgt., Ryan Lane, was KIA during military operations. When Cody called to tell my about his passing, he asked if we could change Graidens middle name to Ryan and of course I said yes.
One month and 1 day after Graiden Ryan was brought into our lives, Cody returned home from a long 7 month deployment and met our son for the first time. It was one of the happiest moments of our lives.
Fast forwarding 3 years- Words cannot describe how much Cody and I love Graiden. He has a personality like nothing I've ever seen. He makes us smile uncontrollably and laugh until it hurts. I know that he's going to grow up and make a huge impact of several of the lives around him. After all, he's only 3 now and has already changed our lives completely.